60ft trimaran meant for racing encounters '60 year storm'By Auckland Now/Sail-World Cruising,
11:09 AM Mon 25 Jul 2011
The difficulties that can be encountered when a yacht meant primarily for speed racing is faced with a significant storm was underlined in the reports of a racing trimaran caught in a storm in the Tasman Sea this week. The Auckland trimaran, headed for Sydney to participate in races and regattas along the eastern coastline, encountered fifty knot winds which they described as 'harrowing'. ...[more]

Fatal Kiwi 35's probably as stable upside down as right side upBy Eric Sharp, Detroit Free Press,
5:29 PM Fri 22 Jul 2011
It happened during a race, and would not normally be covered by Sail-World Cruising. Two sailors died last week in the Chicago-to-Mackinac race, after the Kiwi 35 Wingnuts turned turtle without losing its keel. However, the safety issues involved in boat construction, are always a subject critical to the cruising sailor, and we therefore print an analytical article here ...[more]

Tragic death of 14-year-old trapped by harnessBy ., ,
5:25 PM Sat 25 Jun 2011
All sailing parents will be watching for the outcome of investigations which are continuing about the tragic death of a 14-year-old sailing student who was wearing a life jacket but trapped underwater by her harness when sailing with another student this week in a 420 dinghy. ...[more]

Beware the outboard - man's foot sliced offBy Sail-World Cruising round-up, ,
10:10 AM Wed 15 Jun 2011
As a cruising sailor one gets very used to being around dinghies and their outboard motors - for playing or for travelling, for transporting gear or for use as a diving board. But as familiar as they are, danger is always lurking for the unwary. This week a man's foot was sliced off after he fell in and got caught in the boat's propeller in a horrific incident on a river in Eynesbury, UK. ...[more]

Hapless boaters located by their smartphoneBy BoatUS/Sail-World Cruising, ,
6:32 AM Tue 14 Jun 2011
They had done everything wrong - they were power boaters and their engine had broken down. They had no VHF, radio or chart plotter, they were tired, it was foggy and they didn't know where they were. But the BoatUS Towing Service was able to help them because they had a smartphone on board, and downloaded an app which gave them their position ...[more]

Boaters ignore simple safety precautionsBy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle/Sail-World, ,
6:46 AM Wed 1 Jun 2011
Feel for the frustration of the various rescue services around the world as their pleading for common precautions seems to go unheeded. In the USA National Safe Boating Week has just passed (May23-30) with much publicity in all forms of media about fundamental safety precautions. Yet on the west coast of Florida alone, there were 23 search and rescue missions during the week. ...[more]

Skipper overboard incident - three crew powerless to retrieve himBy Mark Bell/Sail-World Cruising, ,
5:37 PM Sat 28 May 2011
All the Man OverBoard (MOB) training in the world will not necessarily rescue a crew fallen overboard. An experienced crew were this week unable to pull their skipper back on board, even though he was tethered and was wearing a life-jacket which inflated as he hit the water. ...[more]

Rescue authorities criticise yacht owner who 'chased his yacht'By Sail-World Cruising round-up, ,
2:27 PM Wed 25 May 2011
How far would you risk your safety to save your yacht? A desperate boat-owner has attracted criticism by rescue authorities for chasing his drifting yacht in a dinghy during a 'horrendous' 40 knot gale. The yacht had broken free of its moorings at the yacht club where it was berthed and was gradually drifting towards the shore where it would undoubtedly have been destroyed. ...[more]

Can anyone rescue the UK's Coastguard?By Emily Barr, Guardian/Sail-World Cruising, ,
10:37 AM Mon 23 May 2011
Radical changes to the UK's Coastguard are planned by the British Government, and no-one is happy about it. Her Majesty's Coastguard is used by mariners the world over and has saved countless lives at sea. Here Emily Barr, writing for the Guardian, asks 'Why is the government intent on threatening its work?' ...[more]

Five Spring Boating Safety Tips that work all Summer longBy BoatUS/Sail-World Cruising,
7:17 AM Fri 20 May 2011
With spring's arrival in all the sailing countries of the northern hemisphere sailors have time to reflect on and improve their own safety on the water. The BoatUS Foundation, the USA's leading boat owners organisation, has these five spring boat tips for boating safety - but they can easily help you stay safe all summer long, and no matter in which country you are sailing: ...[more]

Neoprene saves the day after sailing teens go missingBy Sail-World Cruising round-up, ,
9:41 AM Tue 17 May 2011
Sending an important safety message to those making decisions about what to wear when sailing, neoprene - the fabric commonly used in the manufacture of wetsuits - has been lauded for saving the lives of two teenagers who were declared missing after going sailing in their hobie-cat off the coast of France. ...[more]

Hero wife saves three sailors' lives through quick thinkingBy Sail-World Cruising round-up, ,
12:27 PM Mon 16 May 2011
It could happen anywhere anytime, but when it happens where you are will there be a quick-thinking person to take action? Will that be you, or will you be the one that is rescued? Three sailors are alive today because of the quick thinking and positive action of one of their wives. It happened this week on Lake Michigan in the USA. The coldness of the water of the lake added to the danger. ...[more]

Overboard and unconscious, but sailor's quick thinking saves a lifeBy Northwich Guardian/Sail-World Cruising, ,
9:19 AM Mon 9 May 2011
You do the training, but you hope you'll never have to use it. The twin incidents which are in most cases likely to cause the death of a sailor - a knock by the boom which renders you unconscious and at the same time sends you overboard, were experienced in real life this week, but another sailor's quick thinking and life-saving training saved the life of the victim. ...[more]

'Missing' sailor with radio turned off causes wide searchBy Sail-World Cruising, ,
11:02 AM Wed 27 Apr 2011
A yacht that went 'missing' and alarmed his colleague sailors and caused much unnecessary searching by UK coastguard personnel has caused authorities to plead with leisure sailors to register their yachts and communicate with coastguards. While the incident happened in the UK this time, the plea is valid worldwide. ...[more]

'Ready, Set, Inflate!' - 2011 event comingBy Yvonne Pentz, ,
1:06 PM Sun 17 Apr 2011
Boating enthusiasts across North America will gather on May 21 to raise awareness about boating safety, specifically life jackets, during a special event designed to kick-off National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27. ...[more]

A Day in the Life of the Coastguard: Lone yachtsman searchBy Fred Caygill, MCA, ,
6:56 AM Fri 8 Apr 2011
At 3pm yesterday (Thursday),the UK's Portland Coastguard received a VHF call from a vessel on passage from Portland to Par who had intercepted a VHF radio call from a yacht. The skipper of the yacht had been calling on his radio but his signal was not being received by the Coastguard possibly due to weak radio signal ...[more]

The PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) that saved their livesBy Des Ryan, ,
10:58 AM Mon 4 Apr 2011
It fitted in his pocket, but it saved his and his three crew mates' lives when they had a problem in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a McMurdo PLB that saved the lives of the four yachtsmen, who were successfully rescued this week when they activated the beacon following a problem onboard their sailing yacht ...[more]

Lessons to be learned from inquiry into fatal sailing incidentBy Sail-World Cruising round-up,
3:59 PM Wed 30 Mar 2011
Only the thorough investigation which is currently taking place will answer all the questions about why two men died when their sailing boat capsized last weekend. Plainly there will be some lessons to learn, whether it be about the design of the sailing boat or the actions of the people on board. In the meantime there are many theories being aired. ...[more]

Life Jacket Designs innovation awards - see them work, live!By BoatUS/Sail-World Cruising,
7:28 AM Tue 29 Mar 2011
If you think that life jackets have to be bulky, uncomfortable or hot to wear, the winners of the 'Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition' will prove you wrong. The BoatUS Foundation and Underwriter's Laboratory recently announced the winners of their 2011 competition, and you may be surprised at how much the inventive designs break new ground. ...[more]

EPIRB made the difference: Rescued thanks his rescuersBy Sail-World Cruising round-up,
6:47 AM Sat 26 Mar 2011
It wasn't a sailing boat and it didn't happen in your waters or mine. But it served SO effectively to point out to all of us the high importance of every sea-going vessel carrying at least one EPIRB. There is no question in Eric Hopkins’ mind that he owes his life to two things: a personal EPIRB and the United States Coast Guard. ...[more]